Labeling-machine.



G, Homie'. LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUI-E 7.'I95. .l Y m. Pamed May 22,1917.

.IO SHEETS-SHEET l.

Im 3 *il N x J L l F,

al HEPNER.

MMLINGMACHINE. Y APPLicMmN FILED JUNE 7. m5.

' Patentef May 22, 191'?.

10 SHEE`IS-SHEET 2 @ms Y lbgm G. HQ'EPNER. LABELING MACHINE.

:t APPLCATION FILED JUNE A1915* mg m39,

'im ik' Patented May 2,22, l?,

l0 SHEETS-*SHEET 3.

=I I A G. HOEFNER.

LABELING MACHNE.

APPLICATION man JUNE 7. was.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. HOEPNER.

LABELING MACHINE.-

APPLICATmN FILED JUNE 7. |915.

1,22751 39. Patented May 22, 1917.

lo4 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

G. HOEPNEII.

LABELING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED I UNE 1915. y .I L l Patented May 22, 1917.

l0 SHEETS-*SHEET 6.

Gy HUEPNER.

LABELING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. |915. 1,227,139.

Patented May 22, 1917..

lo sHEEIs-SHEET i.

G. HOEPNER.

LABELING MACi'iII\H;`,. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1915.

mgmm Patented my um 1o SHEETS-SHEET s. VVV-Ww I G. HOEPNER. ,LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1915.

Patented May 22, 1917.'

.I 0 SHEETS-SHEET '9.

G. HOEPNER. lLABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION man Juwel; 1915.

Patented May 22, 1917.l

l0 SHEETS-SHEET IO.

GEORGE HOEPNER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Paten-tad May 22, 191'?,

Application iled .T une 7, 1915. Serial No. 32,515,

.To (1U l/tom 'it Imay concern.'

provement in Labeling-Machines, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the art of apply-`A ing labels and has for its object to produce a machine which shall operate expeditiously and economically to secure labels around cans .in such a Way as to cause the labels to fit snugly about the cans and lie smooth and even thereon and to cause them to be effectively attached throughout, their entire lengths and widths.

The paper of which labels are made stretches when damp and again contracts when it dries,y so that unless the labels are tempered just right at the time they are applied to the cans, they )vill expand after application. One of the objects of my inyention is to ptoduce a simple means for so preparing the labels in advance of theirv application that they'ivill remain tightly attached to the cans and therefore be free from looseness or blisters. l

In preparing the labels for application to the cans I moisten them thoroughly and as this permits the paper to be stretched easily it assists in carrying out another object of my invention which is to fit labels nicely about cans having their ends closed by means of caps Whose flanges lie outside of the body of the cans and offsetting or ento produce al machine inwhich the actual operation ofl attaching the label about a can will be performed in such a manner as to bring into play forces which will create conditions similar to .those which exist in the old hand process.

The Various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will'hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advan tages. reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings', wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine arranged in accordance withy a preferred form of ,my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine orrather a section'on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Figs. 3, 4 and are top plan views on 'enlarged scale of the left `hand end of the cent1- al portion, and of the right hand end of the machine as it appears in Figs. 1

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the central portion of the machine ony a still larger scale, some of the superstructure being omitted, or a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 9; Fig. 7 is'a side elevation "on an enlarged scale of the central portio'n'bf the machine; Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through the central portion of -`the machine: Fig. 9 is a section taken approximately on line 9-9 of Fig. 7; e

Fig. 10 is a sectiongon line 10-l0 o Figrgf Fig. 11 is la section taken approximately on line 11-11 of Fig. 5; Fig. 12 is-a View onf an enlarged scale of the devices for, Wrapping the' labels about the cans, detachbdfrom the machine;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section through one of the `label-grippers on the `label conveyer; Fig.'14` is a sideview. of a portion of the driving mechanism, illustrating the means for stopping the feed While the' label is being atlixed and the'meansfor opening the label-grippers on theconveyer; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are sections on an .en-

lar-ged, scale, looking inopposite directions,

one taken ust beside one of the loose pulleys and the ot er on a. plane passing through the pulley.

In the drawings I'have illustrated only a single einbddiment of my invention and, since it contains a considerable number of parts, I shall, for lthe sake-ofbrevity, cor`1' line the detailed description to this single embodiment although the structural details of, some of thenovel features may be widely varied and such features may be employed to advantage in `different relations and' under different'conditions than those illustrated and-.out of combination-with each other.

Referring to the drawiugsgl represents a long horizontal trough supported on a y suitable frame, 2, which is inA turn supported on pedestals, 3, so as to beadjustable to different heights. The trough is intended to contain water. Extending transversely above the trough atopposite ends thereof-are two shafts, 4 and 5. On each shaft are two sprocket wheels, 6, 6, spaced apart so as to `lie just inside the sides ofthe V'trough and of sufficient diameter to extend down near the bottom of the `trough.y ATwo. endless sprocket chains, 7, 7,'extend lengthwise of the trough and pass over correspondin sprocket wheels at opposite ends of the saine;` The upper runs of the chains liev above the trough and are kept horizontal by suitable longitudinal supporting tracks or-rails, 8, 8,

while the lower runs of the chains -lie in the trough. The chains are connected together at regular intervals by cross bars, 9. f

At a short distance v from one end of thel trough and above the. same is a receptacle, 10, for a pile of labels. The outer end wall,

11, of the receptacle is inclined'so as to makean acute angle with the bottom and, where it meets the bottom, there is a narrow `slot, 12, extending the full width of the receptacle. he wall ll-is hinged to the receptacle asin icated at 13, so that it may be swung 'back out of the way and be adjusted up and down, to vary the width of the slot. The downward movement of the wall may conveniently be limited by screws, 14, which engage with the frame, 2, the screws being adjustable in thevertical direction.

' The sprocket chains constitute label carriers which carry the labels through the water in the trough and deliver them in a temperedand paste-coated condition to the label vrapplying means.

` bars, 9, is therefore'provided with gripping means'adapted to grasp one ,endpf a label p and hold it jon the carrier until lit is needed, These gripping means which are best shown in- 'Figsf13 and 14 inA addition to the plan views, consist of U-shaped plates, 15, slipped over the bars, 9, with one arm ofeach above,

and the'other below the corresponding bar; there being preferably a plurality on each Each of the cross' wardly a triie so that a. line contact will be' obtained' with a label lying between it and the bar. army of each gripper plate and its supporting bar, tends constantly to hold the upper arm against the top of the bai'. The gripper plates are so placedon thebars that when A spring, 17, between the lower.'

the bars are brought adjacent to the slot in the label receptacle, and the labels are slipped `one at a, time through the slot the advanceends of the' labels'pass between the upper arms of the yplates and the bars; means being provided for holding the gripping ends ofthe grip er plates raised as this point isfreached. Tie means for opening From the rails, 8 somewhatvbeyond the U-shaped bar, 18, having a long volge which the grippers is' best shown in IFigs; 3 and 14. 'Y

outer'end of the label receptacle, is hung a extends across the machine, and short sup-l porting arms. On this bar are fingers, 19, spaced apart in the same way that the grip per plates of the v'grippers are'spaced and eachadapted, when a gripper is in its receiving position, as indicated in Fig. 14, to engage with the under arm of the corresponding gripper plate when the supporting member, 18, i/s'swung in the proper direction, and thusl opening the' gripper. A spring, 20,

tends constantly to swing the. gripper-opener.

into its working position, the spring being,

however, ovecome and the opener swung into its idle position so as to allow`the grippers to close on the labels by means, suitably actuated and timed, to be. hereinafter described.

After a label has been placed" ori-.the cpu@ veyer it is carried down into andthr'oughout the entire length of the troiig'ghV` leaving the..

troughat the end opposite to that at which* it entered and being carried upV over a rollei'f 22, onthe shaft 5; the surplus water being squeezed out by a suitable wringer roller, 23, pressing against the roller 22. The circuits ferential length of the roller 22de just eqiiiil to the. distance between centers of adjacentL gripper bars and the roller has thereinsa longitudinal groove, 24:,"adaptedto receive each gripping bar as it reaches Vthe roller;

thus preventing interference between the grppers and the roller. A suitable pasteapplying device, 25, may conveniently be placed over the roller, 22, foiapplying paste to the label before the letter begins to`dry.

30 j or bars, 2.6, enough of the jaws being pro- After having -been soaked in the trough and wise of the machine. At the end of the ma- 'chine where the label enters the trough the shaft, 4, is provided with a seriesof spaced disks, 27, to the common cylindrical surface of which the bars or rails, 26, are tangential, thus insuring that the label will enter the trough without buckling as it turns the corner.

'One of the principal features of my invention is the immediate means for placing the labels on the cans. This means, as best shown in Figs. 6, 8 and l2, consists of two sets of jaws, 28 and 28a, shaped to fit snugly about a can to be labeled. In the arrangement illustrated the cans to be labeled are round and therefore the jaws are approximately semi-circular.

ranged' in opposed pairs at some distance from the inner end of the label receptacle, each pair lying between two adjacent rails vided to make the width of each group at least as long as the width of the label measured in the direction of the length of the can. The jaws of, each group are fixed at their ends nearest the other jaws to a trans-- verse rock shaft, these rock shafts, indicated at 29 and 30, lying parallel with each other and somewhat below the tops of the rails or bars 26; the shaftsY being spaced only far enough apart to prevent interference between the adjacent ends of the jaws of each pair. The jaws are so arranged that when the rock shafts are turned to swing the jaws down below the plane of the tops of the rails or bars, 26, the concave sides of thejaws are up while, upon turning the rock shafts to raise the jaws, they will cooperate to form a tunnel extending across themachine in `position to 'embrace a can lying on the tracks or bars just above the inner ends of the jaws. Instead of constructing the jaws so that they will form a I prefer to make Vthe, angular length of the jaws a little longer than required for thisv purpose so that it would be necessary for them to overlap slightly at their ends in order to make a cylindrical opening. This insures, as will hereinafter appear, that Al. there will be no point on the can where an extends continuously from the free end of The jaws are ar-v one'jaw to the Yfree end of the opposite jaw, being attached only at its ends'and being o such length that it is taut or at least does not sag very much whenthe jaws are open. It will be seen that each rubber strip is only slightly longer than twice the diameter of the can to be labeled so that, if the jaws are to close upon a can, the rubber must be gradually stretched. In Fig. 1Q of the .drawing I havezillustrated the operation of a'liixing the label, the jaws being shown in their receiving. or down positions in dotted lines, a label. 32, having been laid upon the'rails or bars 26 just over the jaws, and a can, 33, having been brought and held just over the center of the aw` mechanism. As the jaws are swung up, irst the jaw, 28, and then the jaw, QS, the rubber strips first press the middle ot' the moist., paste-covered label against the bottom of the can and, as the jaws continue their upward movements, the strips stretch and draw the label up and around the can; the action being just the same as though the label were placed on the can b v hand, touching the can only along a line at the middle of the labelfandthe two hands of the operator were then pressed against the label at the line of attachment and were drawn orpushed in opposite directions around the can, progressively attaching the label and stretching and drawing it with a firm but yet a vielding pressure which insures `perfect application of the label. lt will now be seen that by proportioning the jaws as heretofore described, and actuating one somewhat in advance ot the other, onezhalt ot the label will be fully ,attached and will then be over-lapped for a or down positions, the supporting shafts being suitably counterweighted, as indicated at 34, to act with tlie weight of the jaws; the counterweights being, moreover, so placed that the jaws will automatically drop back from their raised positions if the shafts are left free to turn back; suitable stationary rests or supports, 35, being provided beneath tlie jaws for receiving and supporting them.

The labels are lation to the afiixing means by the conveyerftheiiebeing a stationa ry cam or series brought into operativere-- of cams, 36, just beyond theaiiixing means,"

by which the gripper plates are engaged so as to open the grippers whenever one of the latter reaches a point where it has caused a label, (1f it contains one,) to be laid down in the proper position on the aflixing means;y

thus releasing the label and permitting it to be applied about a can as heretofore eX- plalned. i

The-cans are delivered, held while being labeled, and ',remove'd. by a rotary holding mechanism arranged above the label-aflixing means. Thisfeature is perhaps. best illustrated in Figs. 4, 8 and 9. Supported in suitable stationary uprights, 37, extending upward from the frame of the machine at opposite sides thereof, is a transverse shaft,

38. 0n the shaft are fixed two'four-arined spiders, 39, spaced apart a distance consid-v erably `greater than the length of a can and disposed similarly to each other angularly of the shaft. Projecting through the outer end of each arm of each spider is a plunger, 40, axially alined with the corresponding plunger on the opposite spider..

On .the inner end of each plunger is a disklike head, 41, between which and the spider is a compression spring. 42. On the outei' end ofeach plunger is a laterally-projecting cam linger, 43. N ornially the springs hold the plungei's in such positions that the. fingers thereon engage with the outer sides of:

the spiders, the heads on opposed plnngers being at this time spaced apart a distance less than the length'of a can so that if a can is inserted between two of theheads it will be securely clamped between them. On the side of the nprights, 37, facing toward the approaching'labels on the conveyer are arcshaped plates, 44, so disposed, that as each individual can holder has passed about lninety, degrees bevond the label-attaching point, the caniffingers on the plunge/rs1- thereof are engaged by the plates, drawing thecan-holding heads apart and releasing the can; thi'scondition of the can-holding heads being maintained until the holder has traveled a distance approximately one hundred and eighty degrees from the labelalfixing point, or,` in other words, is at the top of its travel.

A 4suitable cali-delivering chute, 45, is arranged vin position to supply cans,.as they.

are needed, to the topmost, open holder curved arnis, 4G, extending down from the chute and supporting the lowerinostv can .of

'i I va stackof cans, 33, in position to be' gripped by the adjacent holder'when the camiingers thereon pass ed of the` plates 44. In order -to prevent Ithe can from falling pif the arms' 46, vand at the same time` allowing it to be carried away .in one of the holders, Ihang a long.counterweightedngen 47, in front of the chute, the lower end of the finger eX- tending down in front of a can on the arms,

A46,"`and pressing against-.the can with suiicientpforce to 'hold it in place until itis gripped in the holding apparatus f swings the holding finger back. 60

Above what may be termed the bedfof the machine, Athat `is above the rails or bars 26 and the upper rim of the conveyer. is acanreceivingchu'te, 48, adapted to receive the labeled cans `at the point where they are released, the chute being slightly inclined so and that the cans .will roll down the same to a I suitable discharge point. On the end of the chute, 48, next to the rotary can-holding mechanism is hung by its arrrs a U-shaped member,49, which embraces .the end of the chiite, its armsv being pivote/d to the Asides of thel chute and .its yoke member underlying the chute. On the yoke or transverse member of the device, 49, are a suitable number` of laterally-projecting curved fingers or hooks, 50, yadapted to be swung from an idle depending position out of the way of cans 'in the holding mechanism to and beyond a position in which they underlie a can in the holder which is just about toA be opened; thus permitting each iabeled can, as it is released by its holder, to be gently transferred to the discharge chute. v

Suitable driving and operating means are1 provided for feeding thev conveyer step by step; holding the `grippers open long enough to receive alabel-froni the label receptacle and close 1t again before the conveyer starts; operating the can-delivery means, while the conveyer is traveling, so as to ,have cans in the label-affixing positions at -the proper times; operating the label aii'xer while the. I

conveyer is at rest and a can is being held in theV label-receiving position; and operating the can-receiving device for taking' the cans and placing them in the discharge chute astheyare released from the holders.

The means illustrated for carrying out these' pulley 53 is loose onits shaft. Fixed upon l'each of the shafts 52 and 54, beside the cor;

responding pulleyis a disk, 57, having on the side thereof a pawl, 58, .inouiited on a short aft, 59, which extends transyersely througi the disk as best shown in`l Figs. 14

to 16. The pulleys 53 and/55 are in 'the l form of sha1 ow cups closed bythe disks 57, and the inner surface of the cylindrical portions are provided with notches, 60, dis- On the ends ofr the shafts 59 whichproject through the tributedy aboutv -the same.

disks are -xed' laterally-projccting 4 arms,

` 61, adapted to be engaged in the notches, 'i

60,' of the 4surrmnding pulley so as to produce a. clutching vconnection between the pulley `and the disk. A spring, 62, behind each of thearnis 61 tends normally to hold them viii operativef'clutching position so that unless interfered with in'some rway each of the pulleys will, be clutched te'itsshaft. The means for' unclutehing the pulleys from their shafts consists of two vertical rods,

153 nand 64, mounted in Suitable biirngs in 130 i il l l proximity to the pulleys 53 and 55, respectively, so as to be rotatable about vertical.

axes. The upper end of each rod is bent laterally as indicated at 65 'and is provided with a vertically adjustable head,- 66. The parts are so proportioned that they may be swungbetween. a position in which they lie'in the pathl `ofmovement of the pawls 58 to -aposition 'in which they do not `interfere with the freemovement'of these pawls. By properly controlling the rods 63 and 64either of the two pulleys may be clutched to its shaft while the otherl remains un'clutched, or both 'may be clutched to their shafts at the same time. On the lower end of the shaft 63 are two laterally-projecting arms, 67 and 68. Between the arm 67.and the member 18 of the gripper-opening device is an actuating rod, 69, of such lengthv that it will be placed in gripper-opening position when the rod 63 isswung into the path of the corresponding pawl 58and will be returned to its idle position when thev rod 63 is swunginto its idle position.' The arm, 68, is connected to one end of a rod, 70, the other end of which extends to and is supported by the shaft 54, being provided with a loop-likeV portion, 71, surrounding the shaft and ha ing on one side a project-V ing stud, 72, which isv adapted to be engaged by a suitable cam, 73, on the shaft to operate the rod 70 and thus cause the controlling rod 63 to be turned. The connection between the'rodl 70 and the shaft 54 serves to turn the rod 63 out of its clutchreleasin'g position, -it being'shifted into its clutch-releasing position by the' spring 2O connected to the gripper-opening device.

On the ends ofthe shaft 54 are fixed twodisks, 75 and 76, eachprovided with a laterally-projecting roller, 77, revoluble'- about an axis' parallel with the axis of the shaft. Surrounding the shaft at the sides/of the disks 7 and 76 onI which the rollers lie,

are loop-like heads, 78, each forming oneI but only during two short portions of the angular' movement ofthe roller at diametrically opposed points. The disk, 75, is set so .as to bring its roller slightly in advance of the roller on the-disk 76, thereby caus-l ing the shaft 29 and the label-afhaling aws, 28, carried thereby to be operated slightly in advance of the shaft 30 and the jaws 28a as heretofore described. The controlling rod, 64, for the clutch between the pulley 55 and the shaft 54 is actuated in one direc- ,tion by means of a spring, 88, and in the `by a cam, 88, on the shaft 5 so as to'move the rod 84 in the proper direction to bring 80 the. member 64 into its idle position. A suitable sprocket chain, 90, passes over'a sprocket wheel, 91, on the shaft 38 of the can carrier and a sprocket Wheel, 92, on the shaft 5. On the end of the shaft 5 op- 35 posite that on which the sprocket wheel 9.2 'is located is a crank arm, 93, to which is vconnected one end Aof a connecting rod, 94,

whose other end extends to and' is connected to an extension, 95, ofoneof the ar'ms of 9o the can-receiving and shifting device 49.

The operation of the entire machine,-

briefly stated, is as follows: Assuming that the driving pulley is unclutched from the shaft '4 and the `label conveyor is standing 95 idle, there is a label gripper adjacent to the slotted end of the label receptacle, so that the operator may feed a label out through the slot in the receptacle and into the grip# per. While the conveyeris standing still, 10o the actuating rod, 84, which controls the clutch between the shaft,54 and its pulley is in its forward position and therefore the shaft 54 and its pulley are clutched together and the shaft is being` rotated, thus operating the label-atlixing devices as heretofore described. When the label has been affixed theI cam 7 3 shifts the rod70 and moves the controllingl rod 63 for the clutch between the shaft 4 and ,its ulley to its idle positionl, 110 causing the shag 4 and its pulley to be clutched together and consequently causing the lconveyor to start moving. The act of shifting the' clutch controlling rod, 63, also shifts the gripper-opening device so as to allow the gripper which has just received a label to be closed upon the label, whereby the label will be,iirmly gripped to the con-v veyer before the movement of'the conveyer begins. Vhen the conveyer begins to move, 12C it turns .the shaft 5 and causes the cam, 88, tomove away from the projection, 8,7, releasing the rod 84 vso as to permit the spring l 83 to swing the clutch controlling rod 64 into the position to cause the shaft 54 tobe 125 unclutched from its pulley; the shaft 54 remaining idle until the controlling rod 64 is again brought to its release position. As soon as the shaft 5 begins to revolve it also causes the rotary can-holding mechanism to revolve, the parts beingso proportioned and timed that the movement of the can-holding mechanism will b e through an angl'e of ninety degrees during each step made by the conveyer. The rotation of thel shaft 5 also causes the swinging can-receiving device, 49, to be actuated in proper time relation to the rotary can-holding means to bring the hooks or arms, 50, beneath the labeled can which is about' to be released, and causes the can to rollr down into the receivingchute, 48. Before the shaft 5 has completed a revolution, the rod 84 is actuated so as to cause the shaft 54 and its pulley to be clutched together again and permit the controlling devices for the clutch-controlling rod-63 to be brought into play in time to stop the movement of theconveyer after the shaft 5 has made a complete revolution, that is after the conveyer and the labels have been fed forward a complete step and before the actual operation of afixing the label begins.

The cycle of operations just described may be repeated indefinitely, each label being carried -forward step by step through the water in the trough and being finally deposited on the aiiixing devices in a tempered, paste-covered condition, where it is attached to' and carried away with a can.

If desired, a suitable cross conveyer, 99, may be placed at the rear 'end ofthe canreceiving chute, 48, as shown in Fig. 5, to carry the labeled cans away. However, this is no part of my invention, as the cans may be taken away in any manner desired.

lVhile I have illustrated and described with particularity only a'single `preferred form of my invention I do not desire to be limited to the cxactstructural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the terms employed in the delinitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a label-aiixing machine, an elongated trough for containing water, an endless conveyer extending lengthwise of the trough and having the lower half lying in the trough, means on the conveyer for holding a label thereonl while it is being carried through said trough, and means for removing the labels from the convever after tney applying paste to the label after it leaves leave the trough andapplying them Ato the work'to be labeled.

2. In a label-aiiixing machine, a receptacle for containing water, means for passing a label through the said receptacle, means for paste-covered label to the Work.

In a label-aiixing machine, an elongated trough for containing water, means for passing` a label lengthwise through the 1,227,139 v l .i

trough, means for ,applying paste to the label after it leaves the trough, and means for ai'lixing the'label t0 the work.

4. In a la`be1-aiixing machine, a trough for containing water, means orpassing a label through the trough, meansfor applying paste to the label after-it leaves the trough, means for bringing the work :to be labeled in proximity to the paste-covered label, and means for wrappinglgthe label about the work. v f

In a label-aiixing machine, \a.'}.trough, for containing water, an endless *,cdnveyer having a portion lying in the trough grip'- pers on the conveyer for holding label thereto, a receptacle for labels adjacent to said conveyer, label-aiixing means arranged adjacent to the conveyer, and ymeans for moving the conveyer intermittently and bringing it to rest with grippers lying in proximity to said receptacle and to saidaiixing means. I v

(i. In a label-aliixing machine, an elongated trough adapted to contain' water, an

`endless conveyer extending lengthwise of trough, grippers distributed along the conveyer for holding individuallabels thereon, means above one end of the trough for applying paste to the labels as they leave the trough, and means for removing the labels from the eonveyers and applying them to the work.

7. In a. labeleafixing machine, an elongated trough adaptedfto contain water, an endless conveyer extending lengthwise of and having its lower half .lying in the trough, grippers distributed along the conveyer for holding individual labels thereon, means above one end/ef the trough forA applying paste to the labels as they vleave the trough, a support for a supply of labels in the vicinity of the other end of the trough, label-aiiixing means at an intermediatel point, and means for opening the grippers when they reach the label-atiixing point andthe label-supplying point.

S. In a label-aflixing machine, means for maintaining a body'of water, means for immersi'ng a label in such body long enough to permit it to become thoroughly soaked, and means for at'tixing it to the work after being removed from the water.

9. In a label-ai'lixing machine, means for maintaining a body of water, means for immer-sing a label in such body long enough to permit it to become thoroughly soaked, means for applying paste to the label after it leaves the water, and means for atlixing the label to the work. l

10. In a l'abel-atlixing machin-e, 1 a con veyer comprising .two parallel endless members arranged beside each-other at a distancel apart at least as great ,as the width fthe grasping label-allixing means i label-afxing means the conveyer and movable labels to be affixed, cross bars connecting said members togetherat regular intervals, gripping devices on said bars for grasping the labels at one end, and means movable through the upper run of the conveyer for lifting the labels therefrom and aiiixin'g them to the work: Y

11. In a label-ailixing machine, a conveyer comprising two parallel endless mem-'- bers arranged besideeach other at a distance apart at least as great as the width of the labels to be affixed, cross-bars connecting said members together at regular inter-vals, gripping devices on said bars for the labels at one end, parallel separated rails lying between and parallel with the upper portions of said members, for supporting the labelsl as they are carried along by the upper portion of said conveyer, and means movable through the spaces between said rails for lifting labels therefrom and aflixing them to the work. 4 12. ln a label-afxing machine', a conveyer comprising two parallel endless members' arranged beside each other ata distance apart at least as great as the width of the labels to be aiiixed, cross-bars. 4connecting said members together at regular intervals, gripping devices on said bars for grasping the labels at one end, parallel separated rails lying between and parallel with the upper portions of said members, for supporting the labels as they are carried along bythe upper portion of said conveyer, label-aiiixing jaws arranged in pairs in the spaces between said rails, and means for actuating said jaws to lift a label from the rails and affix it to the work.

13. In a label-ailixing machine, an endless conveyer having devices thereon for grasping labels at one end, aiixing means movable `through the upper run of the conveyer to lift the labels therefrom and apply them to the work, andmeans actingon said devices when the .labels reach the aforesaid affixing means to release the labels.

14. In alabel-alixing machine, an endless conveyer having openings therethrough-aftl least as large as the labels to be operated upon, a device at one end of each of said openings for gripping one end of the labels;

located beneath the upper run of' the conveyer and movable through the said openings to litt` the labels 'and affix them to the work.

15. In a label-ailixing machine,',an endless conveyer having .openings therethrough at least as large as the labels to be operated upon, a device at one end of each of said openings for gripping one end of the "labels,

located beneath theupper run of through the said openings to lift the labels and affix them to the work, and means actsaid openings in theconveyer for aliixing the labels tothe work.

17 I a label-afxing machine, an elongated trough adapted to contain water, an endless conveyer extending lengthwise,` of the trough and having its lower run lying in the trough, said conveyer having openings therethrough at least as large as the labels to be operated on, means for detachably holding the labels on the conveyer in registration with said openings, a series ofseparated parallel rails extending longitudinally of the conveyer just below.the upper run thereof for supporting the passing labels, and means movable through the spaces between said-rails and through said openings to lift the labels and affix them to the work.

18. In a label-aiilxing machine, an elongated trough or containing water, an endless conveyer extending lengthwise of and having its lower half lying in said trough, means on the conveyer for holding labels thereon, means arranged above the trough for bringing cans one at a time in'prox1m.-\

ity to the upper run ofithe conveyer, and4 means for removing the labelsfromfthe conveyer and afflxing them about the cans lwhen the latter are brought into proximity to the conveyer as aforesaid. 19. In a labelailixing machine, an elongated trough for containing water, anr end- "less conveyer extending lengthwise of and having its lower half lying in said trough,

means on the .conveyer for holding labels thereon, a can .holder arranged above the trough so as to be-i'otatable about a.. trans- 11 verse horizontal axissaid holder being so constructed and arranged as to bring a can therein in proximity to the upper run of the conveyer, aud .means for lifting a label from the conveyer and ailixing it to a can in proximity to the conveyer as aforesaid.

i 20. -A label-aflixing device comprising two curved jaws lying end to end, means for supporting said .jaws so; as to permit them to swing from and toward each other about saidqends, a flexible elastic member connected to the free ends of said\jaws and having'y a length shorter than the icircumference of a piece of .Work to be" labeled, the free end of one of said jaws being permitted toswing past'the point of extreme lnward movement Work-'from thelmiddle of said member to- Ward the ends and one of said jaws to be re- Leef/,139

treated slightly at the end of its4 inward movement so as to hold the major portion of the corresponding haii' of said flexiblev member in Contact with the Work While the L other end of Seid` memberl is making an over-vv lapping movement.

In testimony whereof, I signV this specif cation.

' GEORGE HOEPNER. 

